Carton handling apparatus



April 1963 J. J. BOGDANSKI ET AL 3,084,490

CARTON HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTORS To/M J. BOGJHMSKI y UOSfH V KU SOUY \ALQAM A2.

April 9, 1963 J. J. BOGDANSKI ET AL CARTON HANDLING- APPARATUS Filed,Aug. 10, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll'h L April 1963 J. .1. BOGDANSKI ET AL 3,084,490

CARTON HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 Fi1e d Aug. 10, 1961 April 9, 1963 J. J. BOGDANSKI ET AL CARTON HANDLING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 10 1961 United States i atent 3,034,490 CARTON HANBLING APPARATUS John J. Bogdanski and Joseph V. Kuhovy, Stamford, Conn, assignors to Pitney-Bowes, line, Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 10, N61, er. No. 139,664) 8 Ciairns. (Cl. 53-67) This invention relates to a carton handling apparatus, and more particularly to such an apparatus which is effective to feed cartons in onc-by-one succession to or past operating means such as carton-opening means.

In applying cigarette tax stamps to individual packs of cigarettes, cartons containing ten packs are first opened at one side to expose the bottom end of all ten packs of each carton. This is accomplished by separating and folding back two overlapping flaps which initially are glued together to close each carton. Subsequently, the tax stamps are applied by a printing die of a metering machine or by other means, and the cartons are re-closed by gluing and folding back the two carton flaps. The present invention, in the form particularly described hereinafter, is utilized to feed cartons in one-by-one succession past a carton-opening means and is provided with means whereby each carton is fed past the carton-opening means only when the respective carton is in proper attitude for feeding, is not reversed end-for-end, is of the proper height, and is properly opened by the carton-opening means.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved carton-handling apparatus for feeding cartons in one-by-one succession along a feed path.

A further object is the provision of such an apparatus including improved means for stopping the feed of cartons without stopping the drive to the feeding means.

Other objects of the invention are to provide such an apparatus which is effective to stop the feed of cartons when a carton is presented to the feeding means in improper attitude to be fed, when improper operation occurs, and when a carton to be fed is of improper size, is upside down and/ or is reversed end-for-end.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette tax-stamping machine including a carton-opening unit;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carton-opening unit, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the carton-opening unit, again with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of the remainder of the carton-opening unit;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 2 and showing a device for selectively setting each one of a plurality of carton-feeding lugs of the carton-opening unit from an unlatched non-feed position to a latched feed position;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view taken substantially along line 66 of FIG. 2 and showing a device for selectively releasing each one of the carton-feeding lugs from said latched feed position to said unlatched non-feed position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view taken in section along the line 7-7 in FIG. 3 and showing a portion of means for adjusting the height of the base of a guideway along which the cartons are fed through the carton-opening unit;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view taken in section along the line 8-8 in FIG. 2;

ice

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view taken in section along the line 99 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view taken in section along th line 1010 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view, broken away in part, of the input conveyor of the carton-opening, this view being taken in section from the left-hand side of the input conveyor as shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are top plan views of one of the cartonfeeding lugs, FIG. 12 showing the lug in the latched feed position and FIG. 13 showing the lug in the unlatched non-feed position;

FIGS. '14 and 15 are front elevational and side elevational views, respectively, of the lug in the latched feed position;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are front elevational and side elevational views, respectively, of the lug in the latched feed position;

FIG. 16 is a wiring diagram of the carton-opening unit; and

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view taken in section along the line 1717 in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cigarette tax-stamping machine is shown which includes a carton-opening unit, a stampirnprintin-g unit and a rescaling unit generally indicated at 20, 22 and 24, respectively. Sealed cartons of cigarettes are placed on a pair of continuously moving conveyor belts 26 which convey the cartons sideways in succession to a feed path where the cartons are fed forwardly (to the right in FIG. 1) in one-by-one succession. Each carton is initially closed at its upper surface by a pair of overlapping fl-aps glued or otherwise sealed to each other. While being forwardly fed through the carton-opening unit 20, each carton is opened to expose the bottoms of ten inverted packs of ciganetes therein; this being accomplished by separating the overlapped flaps and folding them back. The opened cartons are then fed through the stamp-imprinting unit wherein a tax stamp is imprinted on each of the exposed cigarette packs. Each opened carton is then fed through the rescaling unit 24 where the flaps of the carton are re-glued and folded back into sealed overlapping relation. The closed cartons, after being fed through the rescaling unit 24, are conveyed away from the feed path by a pair of continuously moving conveyor belts 28 whereupon the cartons are placed in boxes for subsequent distribution to retailers.

The present invention is directed to the carton-handling means of the carton-opening unit 20, and this unit will be described in detail hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the carton-opening unit 20 includes a base casting 39 which supports a frame casting 32. The frame 32 carries two end bearings 34 and 36 respectively supporting shafts 38 and 40. Shaft 38 has a driven sprocket wheel 42 fixed thereto and a driving sprocket wheel 44 is fixed to the shaft 40. In addition, the frame 32 carries a bearing 46 which rotatably supports a shaft 48 having an idler sprocket wheel 50 fixed thereto. A sprocket chain 52 is entrained about the respective sprocket wheels and is continuously driven in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3.

The shaft 40 has a pulley wheel 54 fixed thereon, and the latter is driven by a belt 56 which, in turn, is driven by a pulley wheel 58. The pulley wheel 58 and another pulley wheel 60 are fixed on the opposite ends of a shaft 62 ro-tatably supported by a bearing fixture 64 bolted to the base 30. A belt 66 drives the pulley wheel 69 and is driven by a pulley wheel 68, the latter being driven by a motor 70 bolted to the base 30.

The sprocket chain 52 carries a plurality, in this case three, feeding lugs 72 equidistantly spaced along the sprocket chain length. With reference to FIGS. 12-15, g

each feeding lug 72 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 74 between a feed position and a non-feed position. The pin 74 is fixedly carried by a U-shaped bracket 76 the legs of which form a connecting link between two links of the sprocket chain. A torsion spring 78 concentric with the pin 74- has one end fixed to the lug 72 and its other end fixed to an ear 8% integral with the bracket '76 whereby the lug is resiliently biased from the feed position shown in FIG. 12 to the non-feed position shown in FIG. 13. A stop 82 is integral with the lug 72 and abuts the bracket 76 to limit movement of the lug in the direction toward which it is biased by the spring. An L shaped latch 84 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 86 carried by the bracket 76. A torsion spring 88 has its ends coiled about and fixed to the pin 86, and has its central portion 99 bearing against one leg of the latch 84 resiliently to bias the latter to the latching position shown in FIG. 14. Whenever the lug 72 is swung in the counterclockwise direction from the position of FIG. 13 to the position of FIG. 12, a curved section 92 of the lug restrains the latch 84 against movement until one end of this curved section which forms a shoulder 94 clears the adjacent leg of the latch. Thereupon the latch 84 pivots in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 14 until the distal end of said adjacent leg engages the bracket as shown in FIG. 14. A step 96 integral with said leg and which rides against the curved section 92 of the lug as the latter is so swung, pivots with the latch into blocking relation with respect to the shoulder 9 4 as best shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. In this manner, the lug 72 is latched in the feed position.

With the lug 72 in the latched feed position, a depending portion 98 at right angles to the remainder of the lug is disposed in position for pushing and thereby feeding a carton. Upon pivoting the latch 84!- in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 14 until the step 96 clears the shoulder 94, the lug 72 will be, released to swing under the bias of spring 78 back to the unlatched non-feed position shown in FIG. 13.

Movement of each of the lugs 72 from the unlatched non-feed position to the latched feed position is accomplished selectively by a lug-operating device generally designated at 161) in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5. The frame 32 supports a hollow guide 102 for a rod 104. The rod 164 is movable between a retracted and an advanced position under the action of a solenoid 106. When the solenoid 106 is energized, the plunger 10% pivots a link 1110 in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. to move the rod 104 to the advanced position. Upon de-energization of the solenoid 166 the rod 164 moves to the retracted position under the force exerted by a tension spring 112 connected between the lower end of the link and the frame 32.

As each lug 72 moves with the sprocket chain 52 from the lower reach to the upper reach thereof, a roller 114 rotatably carried by the lug is engaged by the rod 164 so long as the latter is in the advanced position. When this occurs, the lug 72 swings from the unlatched non-feed position to the latched feed position as forward movement of the lug 72 continues. When the rod 164 is in the retracted position, however, the respective roller 114 clears the rod and the lug remains in the unlatched nonfeed position.

Somewhat beyond mid-way of the upper reach of the sprocket chain 52 is another lug-operating device generally designated at 116. The device 116 acts selectively to release the lug 72, if in the latched feed position, to the unlatched non-feed position. Referring to PEG. 6, the frame 32 mounts a hollow guide 118 supporting a rod 120 for movement between a retracted position and an advanced position. A plunger 122 is pivotally connected to a link 124 and is operated by a solenoid 126 such that when the solenoid 126 is energized the link pivots to the left as viewed in FIG. 6 about a pivot 128 to move the rod 126 leftward to the retracted position.

Upon de-energization of the solenoid 126, the rod moves to the advanced position under the force exerted by a tension spring 136 connected between the link 124 and the frame 32. When the rod 120 is in the advanced position as latched lug 72 moves therepast, the rod engages the upper end of the latch 84 as can be seen in FIG. 14 to pivot the latch in the counterclockwise direction thereby releasing the lug 72 for movement under the bias of the spring 78 to the unlatched non-feed position. With the rod 120 in the retracted position, the latch 84 will clear the rod and will not release the lug to the unlatched non-feed position.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a third lug-operating device generally designated at 132 is provided adjacent the end of the upper reach of the sprocket chain 52. The lugoperating device 132 includes a bracket 134 mounted on the frame 32. The bracket fixedly supports a rod 136 at a location relative to the sprocket chain corresponding to that of the rod 121) when the latter is in the advanced position. Consequently, any log 72 in the latched position that is not released to the unlatched position by the lug-operating device 116 will be so released by the lugoperating device 132.

The carton-opening unit 21) includes a guideway providing a feed path for the cartons adjacent the upper reach of the sprocket chain 52. The base of the guideway is defined in part by the inner end of the deck plate 138 of a conveyor generally designated at 1411 and in part by a base member 142, the latter being shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 8. One side wall of the guideway is formed by a lower side plate 144 (FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8) and an upper side plate 146 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 9). Lower plate 144 is supported by brackets 148 carried by the frame 32, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, and upper plate 146 is fixed to a plate 151) :(FIG. 9) bolted to the frame 32. Each carton that enters the guideway is urged against the side plates 144 and 146 initially by the conveyor belts 26 and subsequently by a spring-biased roller 152 and spring-biased plates 154-, 154.

The roller 152 provides the additional function of acting to bow or raise the two glued overlapping flaps 156 and 153 (FIG. 8) of each carton C away from the bottoms of the packs of cigarettes in the inverted carton as shown in FIG. 3, thereby ensuring the entry of the nose 1611 of a carton-opening plow 162 (FIGS. 24) under these flaps. The plow 162 gradually tapers upwardly from the nose 169 in the direction of carton feeding and acts to part the two flaps and to fold them back as indicated in FIG. 8.

The roller 152 is rotatably supported by a lever 164 which, along with a lever 166, is mounted for movement about a pivot 16%. A first tension spring 169 resiliently biases the lever 166 in the counterclockwise direction relative to a base plate 1711 supported by the frame 32. A second tension spring 171 resiliently biases the lever 164 in the counterclockwise direction relative to the lever 166. A stop 172 carried by the base plate 176 limits the counterclockwise movement of the lever 166, and a pair of stops 174 and 176 carried by the lever 166 at opposite sides of the lever 164 permit a limited amount of movement of the lever 164 relative to the lever 166. The spring 169 is sufiiciently pre-tensioned that no expansion thereof occurs until the lever 164 engages the stop 174 while swinging in the clockwise direction.

The roller 152 normally lies in the feed path of the cartons and when engaged by the lead end of a carton swings in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 against the bias of spring 171. Cartons of so-called softpacks of cigarettes are ordinarily narrower and require less pressure by the roller 152 to achieve the previously described bowing effect as compared with cartons of socalled hard-packs (also referred to as crush-proof and hard boxes) of cigarettes. Consequently, when the roller is swung in the clockwise direction due to engagement by the lead end of a carton of soft-packs of cigarettes, only the lever 164 swings and only the spring 171 is distended. With a carton of hard-packs of cigarettes, however, lever 164 swings until it engages the stop 174 whereupon the lever 166 also swings in the clockwise direction while both of the springs 169 and 171 distend. In this manner, the requisite greater force against cartons of hard-packs of cigarettes is developed.

The plow 162 is supported by a bracket 178 carried by the frame 32 as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 8. For further details of the plow 162, reference may be had to U.S. Patent No. 2,994,173, granted on August 1, 1961, to W. \IV. Herrick.

Each one of the side plates 154, 154 is mounted, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, on a pair of rods 18%. Each rod 180 is slidable along an aperture provided by each leg of a U-shaped bracket 182, the latter being mounted on a cover member 184. A compression spring 186 is coiled about each rod 181 in abutting relation at one end with a washer 188 fixed to the rod and at the other end with a washer 1% slidable relative to the rod. Another washer 192 is fixed to the rod 180. In this manner, the cartons of cigarettes are resiliently urged against the side plate 144 while being opened by the plow 162.

The conveyor 140, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a casting 194 bolted at its inner end to the base 38 and supported outwardly of said inner end by a depending leg 196. The lower end of the leg 196 is adapted to engage the table top or any other means upon which the unit 26 is placed. The conveyor 14%) further includes a sub-frame 198, the outer end of which is pivotally mounted by a pair of brackets 21313 fixed to the casting 194. The inner end of the sub-frame 193 carries a pair of bearings 202, 204 through which a rotatable shaft 286 extends. Fixedly secured on the shaft 266 are a pair of rollers 208. Each of the conveyor belts 26, 26 is entrained about one of the rollers 268 and about another one of a pair of rollers 210. Each of the rollers 218 is rotatable about a fixed shaft 212. Each of the fixed shafts 212 has an aperture at each end through which projects a reduced-diameter portion of an adjusting pin 214. The enlarged-diameter portion of each pin 214 is disposed in threaded engagement with the sub-frame 198 whereby the tension on the two belts 26, 26 can be adjusted independently of each other. Access to the adjusting pins can be obtained from underneath the conveyor 140 or, by removing a deck plate 216, from above the conveyor. The deck plate 216, along with the deck plate 138, is secured by screws 218 to the sub-frame 198.

The rotatable shaft 266 to which the conveyor belt rollers 2128 are fixed carries a pulley wheel 222 at one end. A belt 224 drives the pulley wheel 222, passes about a pair of idler pulley wheels 226 and 228, and is driven by a pulley Wheel 230. The pulley Wheels 226 and 228 are rotatably mounted on a bracket 231 bolted to the base 36, and the pulley wheel 23@ is fixed on the end of the shaft 38 which fixedly mounts the sprocket wheel 42. In this manner, the conveyor belts 26, 26 and rollers 288, 2138 are continuously driven off the drive to the sprocket chain 52.

As previously noted herein, the inner end of the deck plate 138 of the conveyor 14% and the base member 142 together form the base of the guideway along which the cartons are fed. This base is adjustable as a unit in the vertical direction to accommodate the variations in height of the different cartons. Three present-day cigarette sizes, in order of decreasing length, are the king, the long and the regular, and the carton heights vary correspondingly. Although more or less and/or different sizes can readily be provided for, the invention will be described in terms of these three.

To eifect the adjustment of the base of the guideway for the cartons, a shaft 232 (FIGS. 3 and 7) is provided which is supported for longitudinal and rockable movement in a pair of bearings 234 and 236. The bearing 234 is carried by the base 30, and the bearing 236 is integral with a bracket 238 bolted to a frame member 240. The frame member 240 is, in turn, bolted to the base 30. A compression spring 242 is confined between a collar 244 secured to the shaft 232 and a washer 246 loose on the shaft, the latter abutting against the bearing 234. Leftward longitudinal movement of the shaft 232 as viewed in FIG. 7 is limited by a stop member in the form of a C-shaped spring clip 248 disposed in a groove in the shaft. Longitudinal movement of this shaft in the opposite direction is limited by engagement of the inner end of a knob 251 with the bearing 234. The knob 250 is secured by a pin 252 to the shaft 232 and interfits with an annular member 254 brazed or otherwise fixed to the bearing 234.

A fixed plate 256 and a movable plate 258 are mounted in face-to-face relation on the shaft 232. The plate 256 is secured to the bracket 238 by a screw 260 which passes through an arcuate slot in the plate 256 into threaded engagement with the bracket 238. The plate 256 is disposed in adjusted position by loosening the screw 260, pivotally adjusting the plate 256 about the axis of the shaft 232 and then re-tightening the screw.

The movable plate 258 has an integral hub 262 secured to the shaft 232 and carries a pin 264. The fixed plate 256 is provided with three apertures 266 for the reception of the pin 264, these apertures being spaced apart respective distances corresponding to the heights of different size cartons. The movable plate 258, the shaft 232 and the knob 250 can be placed in any one of three positions of rotational adjustment by pulling the knob leftward (as viewed in FIG. 7) against the bias of spring 242 until the pin 264 is retracted from any one of the three apertures 266 in which it was disposed, rotating the knob to the desired position, and then permitting the pin 264 to enter the selected one of apertures 266 under the bias of the spring 242. The knob 250 and the member 254 may be suitably marked with indicia as shown in FIG. 2 to aid in locating the selected position of adjustment. This rotational adjustment of the knob 250 effects adjustment of the height of the guideway base member 142 and the inner end of the conveyor deck plate 138 in the manner now to be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the movable plate 258 fixedly carries a bushing 268. A pin 276 extends loosely through the bushing 268, both legs of a channel member 272 and an arcuate slot 274 in the bracket 238. The pin 270 is retained against longitudinal sliding movementrelative to the bracket 238 and channel member 272 by means of a spring clip 276 disposed in a groove in the pin 270 at each side of the channel member. When the knob 250 is retracted against the bias of spring 242, the bushing 268 carried by the plate 258 slides relative to the pin 276. When the knob 256 is rotated, the pin 270 rides in the arcuate slot 274 and the channel member 272 shifts to the left or right as viewed in FIG. 3, depending on the direction of rotation of the knob. This rotation of the knob 250 also acts to raise or lower a rod 27 8 (FIG. 3) in that a pin 280 fixed to the lower end of the rod extends through another slot in the movable plate 258. The rod 278 is guided for vertical movement by a sleeve 281 formed as an integral part of the frame member 240.

Raising and lowering of the rod 278 is accompanied by the identical movement of two other rods 282 and 284 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In this regard, each of the rods 282 and 284 fixedly carries a pin 286 which extends through a slot 288 provided by a link 2913. The links 290 are identical to each other, each is pivoted at 291 to the channel member 272, and each is mounted for pivotal movement about a respective one of two shafts 292 and 294. The shaft 292 is supported by a frame member 296 which is bolted to the base 30 and includes a sleeve 298 for guiding the vertical movement of the rod 282. In

to a block 304 as shown in FIG. 8, and each of the blocks 3% is suitably secured to the base member 142 of the guideway along which the cartons are fed. Consequently,

raising and lowering of the rods 2'78 and 234 eifects corresponding movement of the base member 142.

The inner end of the sub-frame 198 carries an extension 36-5 providing an aperture through which the upper end of the rod 282 projects as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 11. The lower surface of the extension 305 rests on a spring clip 306 disposed in a groove in the rod 232. Consequently, the inner end of the sub-frame 193, along with the inner end of the deck plate 138 and the shaft 296, pivots up and down about the brackets 2% when the rod 282 is raised and lowered.

A counterbalancing tension spring 3% (FIG. 3) is secured at one end to a post 316 fixed to the base 3% and at its other end to the channel member 272 to balance the forces required to raise and lower the deck plate 138 and the guideway base member 142.

Referring to the wiring diagram of FIG. 16, it can be seen that a series circuit path extends from one side of a line source of current through one set of contacts of a double pole main switch 312, and then in succession through a switch 314, the motor 70 and back through the other set of contacts of the main switch 312. So long as the switch 314 remains closed, as it normally does, closing of the main switch 312 energizes the motor 70. Another current fiow path leads from the line source through the switches 312 and 314 and either one or both of two switches 37.6, 318, and then in succession through a momentary switch 320, a relay 322 and back through the main switch 312 to the other side of the line. It may be noted at this point that when the relay 322 picks up, a hold-in current path is established for the relay leading through the contactor 324 of the relay. When the contactor 324 closes, the contactor 326 closes and the contactor 328 opens. The contactor 328 operates a signal lamp 330 which may be located at any convenient position on the carton-handling apparatus. Accordingly, when the main switch 312 is closed, the signal lamp is energized, the motor 70 is energized and the sprocket chain which carries the carton-feeding lugs '72 is driven. When the momentary switch 320 is subsequently closed, the relay 322 is energized and is held in by the contactor 324.

Starting and stopping of the feed of the cartons is ordinarily effected, according to the disclosed embodiment of the invention, by movement of the individual lugs 72 to the feed or the non-feed positions in contrast to start ing and stopping of the drive to the sprocket chain 52 by starting and braking the motor '70 or by engaging and disengaging a clutch. This is advantageous in that Wear is reduced and rapid acceleration and deceleration of highinertia parts is avoided.

As previously described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the lug-operating device tea is effective, when conditioned, to cause each lug 72 moving therepast to assume the latched feed position. The lug-operating device 116 is effective, when conditioned, to cause each lug 72 in the latched feed position to assume the unlatched non-feed position, and the lug-operating device 132 is effective to cause each lug 72 in the latched feed position to assume the unlatched non-feed position. It follows that each lug, as it approaches the lug-operating device 109, will be in the non-feed position. When any group of cartons is placed on the conveyor belts 26, 26, they will be conveyed sideways to the feed path of the cartons. The first carton of the group, so long as it is in the proper attitude to be fed (not lying on its side, etc.) and is of the proper height for which the level of the deck plate 138 was set, will trip a switch-operating finger 332 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The finger 33-2 is pivoted at 334 and is biased by a tension spring 336 to the untripped position. The finger 332, when tripped, actuates a switch 333 to close the contacts thereof. Referring to FIG. 16, the closing of switch 338 operates to energize the solenoid 106 of the lug-operating device 1% since the contaotor 326 is now closed. This conditions the lug-operating device 1th) whereby the rod 1% projects into the path of the roller 114 carried by the next lug 72 so that the latter is moved to the latched feed position and commences to push and thereby feed said first carton along the carton feed path.

The distal end of the finger 332 is located at a distance above the inner end of the conveyor deck plate 138 less than the standard carton height for which the deck plate 138 is set and greater than any standard carton height smaller than that for which the deck plate is set. With this relationship, each carton of the standard height for which the deck plate 138 is set and which is in the proper attitude for feeding, will trip the finger 332 and will be forwardly fed by the next succeeding lug 72. If any carton is of a standard height less than that for which the deck plate 138 is set, that carton will fail to trip the finger 332 and carton feeding will stop because the next and succeeding lugs 72 will fail to be moved to the latched feed position by the lug-operating device 1%. Also, with this relationship, the finger 332 is at a height above the deck plate 133 greater than the width of all of the cartons; this being the case because cartons of the greatest width are substantially less wide than cartons of the smallest height are high. Consequently, if any carton is conveyed to the carton feed path while lying on its side, this carton will fail to trip the finger 332.

As shown in FIG. 17, the plates 15s and 146 are cut out to permit the movable switch-operating finger 332 to project into the feed path of the cartons. Directly above the distal end of the finger 332 is an interference member 340 which is fixedly secured to the plate 154 The interference member 349 is immovable and projects into the carton feed path a greater distance than does the finger 332. The distal end of the interference member 340 is located at a distance above the inner end of the conveyor deck plate 13% greater than the standard carton height for which the deck plate 138 is set and smaller than any standard carton height larger than that for which the deck plate is set. Consequently, if the deck plate i358 of the conveyor M0 is set at a level for cartons of regular" size cigarettes and a carton of long or king size cigarettes is conveyed by the conveyor 140, this latter carton will be prevented from tripping the switch-operating finger 332 by interference with the member 340. This results in failure of the switch 338 to be closed so that the next and succeeding lugs '72 fail to be moved to the feed posit1on and feeding of the cartons stops. Of course, the same situation results if the deck plate 138 of the conveyor 1.40 is set at a level for cartons of long size cigarettes and a carton of king size cigarettes is conveyed to the carton feed path. This is advantageous in that, if an oversize carton were to be fed past the nose of the plow 162, this carton would jam into the plow causing damage to the carton and possible damage to parts of the carton handling apparatus. Of course, if an undersize carton were to be fed past the plow 162, no such damage would result'but that carton would fail to be opened by the plow.

As a first carton is being fed along the deck plate 138, the next succeeding carton being conveyed to the carton feed path cannot trip the switch-operating finger 332 until after the trail end of said first carton clears the lead end of said next or second carton. Of course the trail end of said first carton will clear the finger 332 before clearing the lead end of the second carton. To prevent unnecessary de-energizing and re-energizing of the solenoid 1%, a hold-in switch 342 is provided. This switch is operated by a finger 344 pivoted at 346 and biased by a tension spring 348 toward the untripped position. The switch 342 and the pivot 346, as well as the switch 338 and the pivot 334-, are mounted on the frame member 32. The distance between the distal ends of the fingers 332 and 344 is sufiiciently small that the lead end of each carton fed along the feed path trips the finger 344 before the trail end of that carton releases the finger 332. Also, this distance is sufficiently large that the trail end of each carton fed along the feed path releases the finger 344 after the next succeeding carton conveyed to the feed path, when in the proper attitude for feeding, trips the finger 332. It will be clear that this distance is sufficiently small that the trail end of each carton releases the finger 344 before the next succeeding lug 72 reaches the lugoperating device 101 otherwise a second carton could be fed even though it was not in proper attitude to be fed or was of greater standard height than that for which the level of the deck plate 138 was set.

Referring to the Wiring diagram of FIG. 16, it can be seen that once the relay 322 has picked up so that contactor 326 is in the closed position, the solenoid 106 of the lug-operating device 1011 will be energized when the switch 338 closes and Will remain so unless the switch 342 opens before closing of switch 338. Consequently, the lug-operating device 1% remains conditioned and the successive feed of cartons will not be interrupted by the switches 33S and 342 unless a carton is conveyed to the feed path in improper attitude to be fed, or the respective carton is of a greater or lesser standard height than that for which the level of the deck plate 138 and guideway base member 142 are set, or, of course, the supply of cartons as conveyed to the carton feed path becomes depleted.

If a carton should be conveyed to the carton feed path in the proper attitude for feeding but be reversed end-for-end, no difiiculty would be experienced by the carton-opening unit. However, re-gluing of the carton in the rescaling unit 24 would be upset because of the different transverse dimensions of the small and large flaps 156 and 158. To prevent this possibility, the cartonopening unit is provided with flap-checking means. This flap-checking means, as will subsequently be described, is also effective to stop the feed of cartons whenever any carton for any reason fails to be opened properly.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, 8 and 10, the flap-checking means includes two switch-operating fingers 351 and 352, respectively. As best shown in FIG. 8, each of the fingers 350 and 352 is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 354; the latter being carried by a plate 356 supported by the bracket 178. A torsion spring 358 is coiled about the pin 354 to bias the finger 35 3 in the direction opposite to the direction of carton feed and to a position projecting into the feed path of the cartons. The finger 356, when tripped, operates to close 2. normally-open switch 360. In identical mirror-image relation, the finger 352 is tripped to operate a switch 362 except that the switch 362 is normally closed and is opened when the finger 352 is tripped.

As shown in FIG. 10, the plow 162 is cut-out at 364 to permit pivotal movement of the finger 350 to its normal position projecting into the path of feed of the cartons. As is also indicated in FIG. 10, the finger 350, as well as the finger 352, is retained against pivotal movement under the bias of its spring 358 beyond its normal position by engagement with the side wall of the bracket 178.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 8, the finger 350 is located beyond the nose 16d of the plow 162 and at a level such that it will be tripped by the small flap 156 of a carton that is properly opened by the plow 162. The finger 352 is located directly above the finger 350 at a level such that it will not be tripped by the small flap 156 of a carton that is properly opened. The respective levels of the two fingers 350 and 352 are such that both will be tripped by the large flap 158 of a carton reversed end-for-end and which is opened by the plow. It will be apparent, then, that only when a carton that is not reversed end-for-end is properly opened by the plow 162 will the finger 350 be tripped at a time when the finger 352 is not tripped.

Referring to FIG. 16, a manual stop-feed switch is provided at 366. It can be seen that once the relay 322 picks up, the current flow between the manual switch 366 and the relay hold-in contactor 324 is along any one or more of three parallel paths. The first of these paths is through the switches 360 and 362, the second is through the switch 316 and the third is through the switch 318. Consequently, if all three of these parallel current flow paths are broken, the relay 322 will be deenergized, the signal lamp 330 will be lighted with reclosing of the relay contactor 328, and the solenoids 1136 and 126 (both of which are energized through the contactor 326) will be de-energized. Accordingly, not only will the lug-operating device 10%) be de-conditioned but at the same time the lug-operating device 116 will be conditioned; it being recalled that, unlike the lug-operating device 160, the lug-operating device 116 is conditioned when its respective solenoid 126 is de-energized. With the relay 322 de-energized, therefore, none of the lugs 72 passing the lug-operating device 101? will be moved to the latched feed position and any lug 72 passing the lug-operating device 116 while in the latched feed position will be released to the unlatched non-feed position.

The two normally closed switches 316 and 313 act as enabling means for the flap-checking switches 360 and 362. As can be seen from the wiring diagram of FIG. 16, so long as either one or both of the switches 316 and 318 remains closed, the relay 322 will remain energized regardless of whether either one or both of the switches 360 and 362 is open or closed. Stated otherwise, the flap-checking switches 360 and 362 are effective to deenergize the relay 322 only when both of the normally closed switches 316 and 318 are open.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, each of the switches 316 and 318 is mounted on an angular extension 363 of one of the spring-biased plates 154, 154. An operating member 370 of each of the switches normally projects through an aperture in the respective plate 154 into the feed path of the cartons and is tripped by each carton as the latter moves therepast. The operating members 370 of the switches 316 and 318 are located relative to the flapchecking switches 35% and 352 such that, the lead end of each carton that is properly opened will first effect opening of the switch 316, then the lead end of the small flap 156 of that carton will effect closing of the switch 360 while the switch 362 remains closed, then the lead end of the carton will effect opening of the switch 318. At this point, both of the switches 316 and 318 are open, but the relay 322 remains energized via the two closed switches 36% and 362. If the carton had failed to be opened, the small flap 156 would have failed to effect closing of the switch 360 and the relay 322 would have been de-energized. Also, if the carton had been opened but had been reversed end-for-end, the large flap 153 would have effected opening of the switch 362 so that the relay would have been de-energized (even though the large flap 158 had also effected closing of the switch 3611).

Subsequently, the trail end of a properly opened carton clears the operating member 370 of the switch 316 thereby disabling the effectiveness of the two flap-checking switches 3 6i) and 362. :It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the operating member 376 of the switch 318 is located only a very short distance beyond the point at which both of the switch-operating arms 350 and 352 reach their tripped positions. As a consequence, the flap-checking switches 360 and 362 are enabled a very short time interval after the flap-checking operation on each carton begins; it being noted that switch 316 is always open at the time switch 318 opens. It is clear, then, that the switches 316 and 318 act as sensing means to render the switches 36% and 362 operable to stop the feeding of cartons if, for any reason, any carton should fail .to be properly opened. As an additional example, if a carton should be placed on the conveyor 14% in the aoeaaeo proper attitude to be fed but upside down (i.e. reversed top-for -bottorn from the intended inverted position), the then upper side of the carton would fail to be bowed (because this upper side of the carton is not free at its opposite ends as are the carton flaps d and 158) and the plow 152 would fail to open the carton.

As an alternative, the switch see could be connected so that it alone, rather than with the switch 3&2, completes one of the three parallel current flow paths (the other two paths, as noted previously, being through the switch 316 and .the switch 313, respectively). in this case, the switch 362 would be disposed in series circuit relation with the three parallel current flow paths just as the switch 366 is connected in FIG. 16. This alternative is effective because it is desired to stop the feeding of cartons whenever this switch 362 opens, and this is so regardless of whether either one or both of the switches 316 and 318 is open. With this alternative, just as with the arrangement as shown in PK 16, the opening of the switch 362 would d e-energize the relay 522 and stop the feeding of cartons.

If it should be desired to stop the feeding of car-tons at any time, it is merely necessary to depress the manual stop feed switch 366, thereby (lo-energizing the relay 3-22. lhe manual switch 366 can be located at any conveniently accessible location on the carton-handling machine.

T he switch 314 can also be located at any convenient point remote from the main switch 33.2 for manual operation as a safety switch to shut down the whole machine including the motor "lb. Alternatively, the cover member 184 which mounts the spring-pressed plates 154, 354 can be hinged to swing away from the carton feed path and, in so doing, open the switch 314. This would provide the advantages of permitting more convenient access to a carton that has failed to be opened properly while ensuring safety by stopping the drive to the sprocket chain. When so hinged, the cover member 184 would be provided with means such as a latch to retain it in operative position.

it will be clear from the above, then, that cartons will be continuously opened in succession so long as the cartons are continuously conveyed in succession to the carton feed path in the proper attitude to be fed, all of the cartons are of the proper standard height for which the deck plate 138 and guideway base member 1 52 was previously set, and all of the car-tons are properly opened by the plow 62. Briefly to recapitulate, with the parts as shown in FIG. 16, the main switch 312 is manually closed whereupon the lamp 336 is energized through contactor 32-8 and the motor 7t) is energized to drive the sprocket chain $2 and the conveyor belts 26, 26 of the conveyor Mil. So long as no fault occurs, the first carton effects closing of the switch 338 but no feeding of this carton begins because the relay 322 is tie-energized and the contactor 326 is open as indicated by the signal lamp being energized. The relay 322 is energized by the momentary manual closing of switch and is held-in through the contactor 324. When the cont actor 326 closes, the solenoid 106 of the lug-operating device 1% is energized through switch 333 and contactor 326 so that the next lug 72 to pass the lug-operating device ltltl is moved from the unlatched non-feed position to the latched feed position. This lug 72 in the latched feed position pushes and thereby feeds the first carton forwardly along the carton feed path. The lead end of the first carton causes the switch 342 to be closed before the trail end of this carton permits the switch 338 to re-open, and the switch 342 remains closed until the trail end of this carton clears the lead end of the second carton on the conveyor belts 26, 26 whereupon the switch 338 closes before the switch 342 re-opens thus preventing unnecessary energizing and d energizing of the solenoid The first carton continues to be fed forwardly, is opened by the plow 162 and thereafter, in succession, the switch 316 is opened, the small flap-checking switch 369 is closed (the large flap-checking switch 362 remains closed), and the switch 313 is opened. The relay 322 remains energized through the flap-checking switches 36d and 362 even though the switches 316 and 318 are open and carton feeding continues. The trail end of the first carton permits the switch 318 to re-close before the small flap-checking switch 360 is re-closed by the small flap of the second carton that is properly opened by the plow 162. The switch 316 is opened by the lead end of the second carton before the small flap of the second carton causes closing of the switch 36% so that flap-checking of the second carton occurs when the switch 318 is opened by the lead end of the second carton. The third and succeeding cartons are conveyed to and fed along the carton feed path in the same manner.

The possible faults that can occur and operation of the carton-opening unit to stop the feed of cartons will be reiterated briefly. If a carton should be conveyed to the carton feed path in improper attitude to be fed, that carton will fail to trip the finger 332 so as to close the switch 338 whereupon the lug-operating device 1M will fail to be conditioned by energization of the solenoid 106. As a consequence, the succeeding lugs 72 which pass the lug-operating device 1% will fail to be moved to the latched feed position and carton feeding will be stopped. It a carton of a greater standard height than that for which the level of the (inner end of the) deck plate 138 and guideway base member 142 are set is conveyed to the carton feed path, the interference member 34% will prevent the finger 332 from being tripped and, as above, carton feeding will be stopped.

As noted previously, with a carton that is opened properly, the small flap-checking finger 350 will be tripped by the small flap 155 of the carton and the large flap-checking finger will be untripped at the time that carton is causing both of the enabling switches 316 and 318 to be open. If for any reason the carton fails to be opened by the plow 162, the small flap-checking finger 350 will fail to be tripped at said time whereby the switch 36% will be open, the relay 322 will drop out, both of the solenoids res and 126 will be de-energized, the lug-operating device ltltl will be de-conditioned, and the lug-operating device 116 will be conditioned. As a result, any lug 72 passing the lug-operating device 1% will fail to be moved to the latched feed position, and any lug 72 passing the lug-operating device 116 while in the latched feed position will be released to the unlatched non-feed position whereby all carton feeding is stopped. If any carton were reversed end-for-end, the large flap 158 thereof would trip both of the flap-checking fingers 350 and 352 whereby the switch 362 would be open at said time and, as above, all carton feeding would be stopped.

It is to be noted that if a carton is fed to, but fails to be properly opened by, the plow 162, all carton feeding stops because, in this event, the lug-operating device is rendered inoperable to move any passing lug 72 to the latched feed position and the lug-operating device 116 is rendered operable to release any passing lug '72 in the latched feed position to the unlatched non-feed position. However, if a carton fails for any reason to trip the finger 332 when conveyed to the carton feed path, that carton and succeeding cartons will fail to be fed but feeding of preceding cartons will not be stopped. This is the case because in this latter event, the lug-operating device 100 is rendered inoperable to move each passing lug 72 to the latched feed posittion but the lug-operating device 116 is not rendered operable to release any lug 72 in the latched feed position back to the unlatched non-feed position.

By way of example, the tax stamp imprinting unit 22 may be provided with take-away feed means (not shown) which is operable to take away each carton from the carton-opening unit 20 at a point after the latch 84 of the lug '72 pushing that carton passes the transverse l0- 13 cation of the rod 120 of the lug-operating device 116 and slightly before that latch 84 is engaged by the rod 136 (FIG. 4) for release of that lug to the unlatched non-feed position. This take-away means preferably takes the carton away at a somewhat greater speed than that at which the lugs 72 move with the sprocket chain 52.

Since many changes can be made in the embodiment of the invention as particularly described and shown herein without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that this embodiment be considered as exemplary and that the invention not be limited except as warranted by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton handling apparatus comprising: a guideway providing a feed path for cartons; an endless member movable about a closed path; said feed path lying adjacent and coextensive with a portion of said closed path; a plurality of feeding lugs carried in mutually spaced relation to each other by said endless member for movement with the latter and for movement relative thereto between a feed position and a non-feed position; each of said feeding lugs being disposed out of said feed path while in said non-feed position and being disposed in said feed path while in said feed position and at said portion of said closed path; a first lug-operating device disposed adjacent said endless member in advance of said feed path to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said feed position; a second lug-operating device disposed adjacent said endless member and beyond said first lug-operating device to cause each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said non-feed position; sensing means operatively arranged to be tripped by each carton when the latter is disposed in said feed path in proper attitude for feeding; and control means operatively arranged to condition said first lugoperating device when said sensing means is tripped.

2. A carton handling apparatus comprising: a guideway providing a feed path for cartons; a carton-opening device disposed in said feed path for opening cartons as the latter are fed therepast; an endless member movable about a closed path; said feed path lying adjacent and coextensive with a portion of said closed path; a plurality of feeding lugs carried in mutually spaced relation to each other by said endless member for movement with the latter and for movement relative thereto between a feed position and a non-feed position; each of said feeding lugs being disposed out of said feed path while in said non-feed position and being disposed in said feed path while in said feed position and at said portion of said closed path; means resiliently biasing each of said feeding lugs toward said non-feed position; a latch operatively arranged for releasably retaining each of said feeding lugs in said feed position; a lug-operating device disposed adjacent said endless member in advance of said feed path to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said feed position; a first latch-releasing device disposed adjacent said endless member and beyond said lug-operating device to cause, when conditioned, each latched one of said feeding lugs moving therepast to be released to said non-feed position; a second latch-releasing device disposed adjacent said endless member, beyond said first latch-releasing device and in advance of said lug-operating device to cause each latched one of said feeding lugs moving therepast to be released to said non-feed position; a first sensing means operatively arranged to be tripped by each carton when the latter is disposed in said feed path in proper attitude for feeding; a second sensing means operatively arranged to be tripped whenever a carton fails to be properly opened; and control means operatively arranged to condition said lug-operating device when said first sensing means is tripped and to condition said first latch-releasing device and de-condition said lug-operating device when said second sensing means is tripped.

3. A carton handling apparatus comprising: a guideway providing a feed path for cartons; a carton-opening device disposed in said feed path for opening cartons as the latter are fed therepast; an endless member movable about a closed path; said feed path lying adjacent and coextensive with a portion of said closed path; a plurality of feeding lugs carried in mutually spaced relation to each other by said endless member for movement with the latter and for movement relative thereto between a feed position and a non-feed position; each of said feeding lugs being disposed out of said feed path while in said non-feed position and being disposed in said feed path while in said feed position and at said portion of said closed path; a first lug-operating device disposed adjacent said endless member to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said feed position; a second lug-operating device disposed adjacent said endless member and beyond said first lug-operating device to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said non-feed position; a third lug-operating device disposed adjacent said endless member and beyond said second lug-operating device to cause each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said nonfeed position; sensing means operatively arranged to be tripped whenever a carton fails to be properly opened by said carton-opening device; and control means operatively arranged to condition said second lug-operating device and de-condition said first lug-operating device when said sensing means is tripped.

4. An apparatus for handling cartons closed by unequal-sized flaps folded from opposite sides into overlapping sealed relation; said apparatus comprising: a guideway; means for feeding said cartons lengthwise along a feed path defined by said guideway; carton-opening means in said feed path for unsealing and folding back said flaps of the cartons as the latter are fed therepast; said feeding means including a plurality of mutually spaced feeding lugs movable along a path adjacent said feed path and between a feed position and a non-feed position; each of said feeding lugs being effective to feed a carton along said feed path while in said feed position and being ineffective to feed a carton while in said nonfeed position; a first lug-operating device disposed in advance of said last-named path to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said feed position; a second lug-operating device disposed along said last-named path to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said nonfeed position; a first sensing means located at one side of said guideway to be tripped only by the larger-sized one of said flaps when folded back at said one side; a second sensing means located at said one side of the guideway to be tripped by either one of said flaps when folded back at said one side; a third sensing means located to be tripped when each carton has moved at least partly past said carton-opening means; said first sensing means being operatively arranged to de-condition said first lug-operating device and to condition said second lug-operating device when tripped; and said second sensing means being operatively arranged to de-condition said first lug-operating device and to condition said second lug-operating device when untripped while said third sensing means is tripped.

5. A carton handling apparatus; said apparatus comprising: a guideway; means for feeding cartons in succession lengthwise along a feed path defined by said guideway; carton-opening means in said feed path for unsealing and folding back said flaps of each of said cartons as the latter are fed therepast; said feeding means including a plurality of mutually spaced feeding lugs continuously movable in succession along a path adjacent the carton feed path and between a feed position and a non-feed position; each of said feeding lugs being effective to feed a carton along said carton feed path while in a feed position and being ineffective to feed a carton while in said non-feed position; a first lug operating device disposed adjacent said carton feed path to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said feed position; a second lug-operating device disposed adjacent said carton feed path and beyond said first lug-operating device to cause each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said non-feed position; a conveyor for successively conveying cartons to said feed path; a first sensing means located to be tripped by each carton when the latter is conveyed to said feed path; and a second sensing means located in said feed path a predetermined distance beyond said first sensing member; said predetermined distance being sufficiently small that the lead end of each carton fed along said feed path trips said second sensing means before the trail end of the latter carton clears said first sensing means and that the trail end of each carton fed along said carton feed path clears said second sensing means before the next succeeding feeding lug reaches said first lug-operating device, said predetermined distance being sufficiently large that the tnail end of each carton fed along said feed path clears said second sensing means after the next succeeding carton conveyed to said feed path trips said first sensing means; and said first lug-operating device being operatively arranged to be conditioned only so long as at least one of said first and second sensing means is tripped whereby said first lug-operating device remains conditioned so long as cartons are successively conveyed by said conveyor to said feed path.

6. An apparatus for handling cartons of a plurality of different heights; said apparatus comprising: a guideway including a base; means for feeding said cartons lengthwise along a feed path defined by said guideway; said feeding means including a plurality of mutually spaced feeding lugs continuously movable in succession along a path adjacent said carton feed path and between a feed position and a nonfeed position; each of said feeding lugs being effective to feed a carton along said carton feed path While in a feed position and being ineffective to feed a carton while in said non-feed position; a first lug-operating device disposed adjacent said carton feed path to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said feed position; a second lug-operating device disposed adjacent said carton feed path beyond said first lug-operating device tocause each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said non-feed position; a carton-opener in said feed path for opening each carton fed therepast; the distance between said base of the guideway and said carton-opener being settable for cartons of different heights whereby a carton of the height for which the setting is made would be opened by the carton-opener, a carton of greater height than that for which the setting is made would be jammed by the carton-opener, and a carton of lesser height than that for which the setting is made would fail to be opened by the carton opener; a first sensing means operati 'ely arranged to be tripped when a carton of the height for which said setting is made, is disposed in said guideway in advance of said carton-opener; a second sensing means operatively arranged to be tripped when a carton fails to be properly opened, and control means operatively arranged to condition said first lug-operating device when said first sensing means is tripped and to stop the feed of cartons along said guideway when said second sensing means is tripped.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first sensing means includes a trippable member and an interference member; said trippable member being operatively arranged to condition said first lug-operating device when tripped; said interference member being located adjacent said trippable member and at a distance from said base greater than that between said tripp-able member and said base; and the respective distances from said base of the guideway to said trippable member and to said interference member being settable for cartons of dilferent heights whereby a carton of the height for which the last-mentioned setting is made will trip said trippable member when disposed in said guideway, and whereby a carton of a height greater than that for which said lastrnentioned setting is made Will be prevented from tripping said trippable member due to engagement by said interference member 8. An apparatus for handling cartons of different stan ard heights; said apparatus comprising: a guideway including a base settable to a respective position for each of said standard carton heights; means for feeding said cartons lengthwise along a feed path defined by said guideway; said feeding means including a plurality of mutually spaced feeding lugs continuously movable in succession along a path adjacent said carton feed path and between a feed position and a non-feed posit-ion; each of said feeding lugs being effective to feed a cartoon along said carton feed path while in a feed position and being ineffective to feed a carton while in said non-feed position; a first lug-operating device disposed adjacent said carton feed path to cause, when conditioned, each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said feed position; a second lug-operating device disposed adjacent said carton feed path beyond said first lug-operating device to cause each feeding lug moving therepast to assume said non-feed position; sensing means disposed in said car-ton feed path and operatively arranged to condition said first lugoperating device when tripped; said sensing means being located at a distance above said base less than the respective stand-ar d carton height for which the base is set and greater than any standard carton height smaller than that for which the base is set; and an interference member located adjacent said sensing means and disposed above said base a distance greater than the standard carton height for which the base is set and smaller than any standard carton height larger than that for which the base is set; whereby only those cartons of the standard height for which the base is set will trip said sensing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,385,952 SChmitt Nov. 1, 1932 2,006,711 Farmer et al. July 2, 1935 2,861,677 Van Marie Nov. 25, 1958 

1. A CARTON HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING: A GUIDEWAY PROVIDING A FEED PATH FOR CARTONS; AN ENDLESS MEMBER MOVABLE ABOUT A CLOSED PATH; SAID FEED PATH LYING ADJACENT AND COEXTENSIVE WITH A PORTION OF SAID CLOSED PATH; A PLURALITY OF FEEDING LUGS CARRIED IN MUTUALLY SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER BY SAID ENDLESS MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT WITH THE LATTER AND FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO BETWEEN A FEED POSITION AND A NON-FEED POSITION; EACH OF SAID FEEDING LUGS BEING DISPOSED OUT OF SAID FEED PATH WHILE IN SAID NON-FEED POSITION AND BEING DISPOSED IN SAID FEED PATH WHILE IN SAID FEED POSITION AND AT SAID PORTION OF SAID CLOSED PATH; A FIRST LUG-OPERATING DEVICE DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID ENDLESS MEMBER IN ADVANCE OF SAID FEED PATH TO CAUSE, WHEN CONDITIONED, EACH FEEDING LUG MOVING THEREPAST TO ASSUME SAID FEED POSITION; A SECOND LUG-OPERATING DEVICE DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID ENDLESS MEMBER AND BEYOND SAID FIRST LUG-OPERATING DEVICE TO CAUSE EACH FEEDING LUG MOVING THEREPAST TO ASSUME SAID NON-FEED POSITION; SENSING MEANS OPERATIVELY ARRANGED TO BE TRIPPED BY EACH CARTON WHEN THE LATTER IS DISPOSED IN SAID FEED PATH IN PROPER ATTITUDE FOR FEEDING; AND CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY ARRANGED TO CONDITION SAID FIRST LUGOPERATING DEVICE WHEN SAID SENSING MEANS IS TRIPPED. 